Does Toothpaste Get Rid of Pimples

Let me narrate a true story to you. Once, just two days before I had to attend my sister's wedding, a huge, ugly pimple thought of erupting on my face, and that too bang on my nose. What to do? What to do? I couldn't be seen at my sister's wedding with that thing on my nose. Then my friend suggested that I try toothpaste on the pimple, and she assured me that it is really going to work. Toothpaste? You mean the one that we use to clean our teeth with? Does toothpaste get rid of pimples? Why don't you try it and find out for yourself, she said, and so, throwing caution to the wind, I tried and lo and behold, on the day of the wedding I was seen sans pimple. I am sure that many like me have also been suggested to use toothpaste. So does it really work? Well, that depends on certain factors, and all these factors have been discussed below. So let us have a look if this is really a natural acne cure!

Toothpaste and Pimples

Toothpaste is good for your teeth and we all know that, but does toothpaste work on pimples? Some people say that it does, but it depends on certain factors such as the skin of the person, the ingredients of the toothpaste, the size of the pimple, as well as the place where the pimple has formed. So let us now answer your question.

There are basically two ways in which a toothpaste might work on a pimple or acne; first is that it dries up the skin or the affected area a bit which in turn reduces the size of the pimple, and secondly it acts like a mask which draws out the impurities from the skin. But not all toothpastes are good for your pimples. One should go for a 'true toothpaste', i.e. the toothpaste which is just minty white and without any special features, and also those toothpastes that do not contain much peroxide or any chemicals that are said to whiten the teeth. Be careful of the ingredients of the toothpaste that you are applying, because sometimes, the wrong ingredients can cause irritation to the skin. Toothpastes containing alcohol or methanol might be good for the teeth, but it's best that you do not apply that on your skin, as it will only make the area even drier.

As I have already mentioned above that the effect of the toothpaste on the pimple depends upon certain factors; the kind of toothpaste that you are using, the skin type as well as the place where the pimple eruption has taken place. The type of toothpaste that you use (gel or paste) has already been explained. Coming to the skin type, if you have sensitive or rather dry skin, then you should think twice before you apply the toothpaste. On sensitive skin, the toothpaste might be too abrasive, and since the toothpaste dries up the pimple, it is advised that one with a dry skin should not use toothpaste on a pimple, as it strips the skin off its moisture and leave it even drier. Sometimes people also complain that even if they use the 'true' toothpaste, the pimple instead of drying up, either increases in size or turns a darker shade of red.

When to Apply

Now that you have the answer to your question, 'does toothpaste get rid of acne and pimples', let us see how to apply it and when is the best time. When you get hold of a simple white toothpaste for your pimple, there is a proper way to apply it. First, wash your face properly with an acne face wash and then pat it dry. After that, dab some of the toothpaste on the pimple and leave it overnight. Wash it off the next morning. If you feel that you are getting some kind of irritation on your skin, then stop using it. Thus, that's one way of how to get rid of pimples. Try it.

So, does toothpaste help? Kind of, depending on the factors that I have already mentioned above. But, if toothpaste does not work on the pimple, there are various other home remedies for pimples which you can try. But there are some people who have had positive results using toothpaste, for example me. So try it, but be careful if you have dry or sensitive skin.